书墨楼

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第10章 The Old Mans Return（第1页）

Heknewhewasbeatennowfinallyandwithoutremedyandhewentbacktothesternandfoundthejaggedendofthetillerwouldfitintheslotoftherudderwellenoughforhimtosteer.Hesettledthesackaroundhisshouldersandputtheskiffonhercourse.Hesailedlightlynowandhehadnothoughtsnoranyfeelingsofanykind.Hewaspasteverythingnowandhesailedtheskifftomakehishomeportaswellandasintelligentlyashecould.Inthenightsharkshitthecarcassassomeonemightpickupcrumbsfromthetable.Theoldmanpaidnoattentiontothemanddidnotpayanyattentiontoanythingexceptsteering.Heonlynoticedhowlightlyandhowwelltheskiffsailednowtherewasnogreatweightbesideher.

Shesgood，hethought.Sheissoundandnotharmedinanywayexceptforthetiller.Thatiseasilyreplaced.

Hecouldfeelhewasinsidethecurrentnowandhecouldseethelightsofthebeachcoloniesalongtheshore.Heknewwherehewasnowanditwasnothingtogethome.

Thewindisourfriend，anyway，hethought.Thenheadded，sometimes.Andthegreatseawithourfriendsandourenemies.Andbed，hethought.Bedismyfriend.Justbed，hethought.Bedwillbeagreatthing.Itiseasywhenyouarebeaten，hethought.Ineverknewhoweasyitwas.Andwhatbeatyou，hethought.

“Nothing，”

hesaidaloud.“Iwentouttoofar.”

WhenhesailedintothelittleharborthelightsoftheTerracewereoutandhekneweveryonewasinbed.Thebreezehadrisensteadilyandwasblowingstronglynow.Itwasquietintheharborthoughandhesailedupontothelittlepatchofshinglebelowtherocks.Therewasnoonetohelphimsohepulledtheboatupasfarashecould.Thenhesteppedoutandmadeherfasttoarock.

Heunsteppedthemastandfurledthesailandtiedit.Thenheshoulderedthemastandstartedtoclimb.Itwasthenheknewthedepthofhistiredness.Hestoppedforamomentandlookedbackandsawinthereflectionfromthestreetlightthegreattailofthefishstandingupwellbehindtheskiffsstern.Hesawthewhitenakedlineofhisbackboneandthedarkmassoftheheadwiththeprojectingbillandallthenakednessbetween.

Hestartedtoclimbagainandatthetophefellandlayforsometimewiththemastacrosshisshoulder.

Hetriedtogetup.Butitwastoodifficultandhesattherewiththemastonhisshoulderandlookedattheroad.Acatpassedonthefarsidegoingaboutitsbusinessandtheoldmanwatchedit.Thenhejustwatchedtheroad.

Finallyheputthemastdownandstoodup.Hepickedthemastupandputitonhisshoulderandstarteduptheroad.Hehadtositdownfivetimesbeforehereachedhisshack.

Insidetheshackheleanedthemastagainstthewall.Inthedarkhefoundawaterbottleandtookadrink.Thenhelaydownonthebed.Hepulledtheblanketoverhisshouldersandthenoverhisbackandlegsandhesleptfacedownonthenewspaperswithhisarmsoutstraightandthepalmsofhishandsup.

Hewasasleepwhentheboylookedinthedoorinthemorning.Itwasblowingsohardthatthedrifting-boatswouldnotbegoingoutandtheboyhadsleptlateandthencometotheoldmansshackashehadcomeeachmorning.Theboysawthattheoldmanwasbreathingandthenhesawtheoldmanshandsandhestartedtocry.Hewentoutveryquietlytogotobringsomecoffeeandallthewaydowntheroadhewascrying.

Manyfishermenwerearoundtheskifflookingatwhatwaslashedbesideitandonewasinthewater，histrousersrolledup，measuringtheskeletonwithalengthofline.

Theboydidnotgodown.Hehadbeentherebeforeandoneofthefishermenwaslookingaftertheskiffforhi

“Howishe?”

oneofthefishermenshouted.

“Sleeping，”

theboycalled.Hedidnotcarethattheysawhimcrying.“Letnoonedisturbhi”

“Hewaseighteenfeetfromnosetotail，”

thefishermanwhowasmeasuringhimcalled.

“Ibelieveit，”

theboysaid.

HewentintotheTerraceandaskedforacanofcoffee.

“Hotandwithplentyofmilkandsugarinit.”

“Anythingmore?”

“No.AfterwardsIwillseewhathecaneat.”

“Whatafishitwas，”

theproprietorsaid.“Therehasneverbeensuchafish.Thoseweretwofinefishyoutookyesterdaytoo.”

“Damnmyfish，”

theboysaidandhestartedtocryagain.

“Doyouwantadrinkofanykind?”